Improvement in key-fasteners



H. STRETCHER.

Key-Fastener. No. 163,822. PatentedMay25, m5.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD STRETOHER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN KEV-FASTENERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 63,822, dated May 25, 1875; application filed April 10,1875.

.To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOWARD STRETOHER, of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Key-Guard andIdo hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a face ,view, and Fig. 2 a perspective view, of my invention.

The object of this invention is to render the ordinary door-lock more serviceable and efficient, and to obviate the necessity of bolts and other auxiliary contrivances for securin g doors. Said IIIVGDtlOIl, accordingly, has reference to the provision of a suitable contrivauce for fastening the key within the keyhole, after the door has been locked, in such a manner as to prevent its displacement ormanipulation from without by tools in the hands of a burglar. My invention, accordingly, consists in the special construction and arrangement of parts having reference to the escutcheon, which is formed of a plate of metal with lateral projections or ears, having the upper and lower edges turned over to form guides, and to the locking-slide, which is formed with studs on its upper and lower edges, to limit its movements,

and which has one end bent outward to form a thumb-piece, all as hereinafter described.

As is well known, the ordinary door locks are very insecure in consequence of the facility with which skilled burglars are enabled to manipulate the keys through the agency of my invention, the escutcheon is represented as the base or holder for the slide,the same bein g more convenient and simple. A designates said escutcheon, made in one piece, with ears 0. a, and their horizontal and parallel flanges b b bent over to form guides for the lookingslide. B represents the locking-slide, consisting of a metal plate slotted lengthwise at d. This plate slides under or behind the flanges b b, and across the key-hole O, and is provided with a thumb-piece, D, by which to move it, and stops cc to limit its movement. D designates the key, and d cl the flattened or transversely-recessed portions.

\Vhen the key is inserted in the look, and the bolt projected, the slide is pushed across the key-hole through said recesses, as shown, thus fastening the key upon the inside of the door, and effectually preventing its being turned, or in any way moved in the look by instruments inserted in the key-hole from the outside.

I do not claim, broadly, as my invention a key-fastenerconsisting, essentially,of a sliding plate adapted to embrace the shank of the key 5 but Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The improvement in key-fasteners, consistof the key-hole escutcheon A, having lateral flanges or ears, with their upper and lower edges bent over to form guides, and the locking-slides 13, having the studs 0 c and bent thumb-piece, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of April, 1875.

HOWARD STRETGHER.

Witnesses:

THos. A. OoNNoLLY, J 0s. B. OoNNoLLY. 

